I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.! 
#i|5'^F ^,mm^'^ ^0 # 



{united states of AMERICA.} 



i 



i "^ 



THE 



ATHLETE'S GUIDE. 

A 

HAISTD-BOOK 

ON 

WALKING, KUNNING AND BOWING. 



GIVING A RECORD OF 



ALL THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS SINCE 1773, 



FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRAINING. 



W. E^Hakding, Ex-CHAMPio:b(^RuisrarEE. 






NEW YORK>^'^^lb:>^ 
DICK <fe FITZOERALD, PUBLISHERS, 
1 8 Ann Street . 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1872, by 

DICK & FITZGERALD, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



CONTENTS, 



PAGK. 

List of IsToted Pedestkians, &c 4 

Introductory 5 

On GrYMNASTICS 7 

The Gymnastic GtROUnd 11 

^Walking and Eunning 13 

Physical Training 16 

On Training for Walking and Running 18 

Abstinence from Intoxica.ting Drinks. 23 

The Benefits of Training 27 

On Training for Boat Racing 49 

Tables of Fast Time 56 

Sketch of the Author's Life 60 



LIST OF NOTED PEDESTRIANS, ETC. 



Pagk. 

Adams, GtEorge 41 

Adams, J ames 35 

ALBI ASON, SlAH 39, 40 

Barclay, Caft 28 

Barlow, John 37 

Beagen 44 

Bennet, Lou 37 

Beteridge 37 

Bingham, Willlim 41 

Black, Bob 62 

Blumsell 36 

Bradshaw 32 

Brady 63 

Brazier 39 

Brewster 44 

Brighton 38 

Brooks 39 

Brown, John 36,44 

Brown, K 44 

Bulger 62 

Chadwick 40 

COZAD, J.W 41 

Crandell, Henry 41 

Crawford, John 68 

Crisp, Daniel 31 

Criss, J 44 

Davis, E. D 41, 68 

Davis, Kelly 41 

Davison, George 42, 43 

DeKelso 62, 65, 66, &c. 

Deekfoot 38 

Fen'ton, Reuben 61 

Fleet, John 39, 40 

Fuller, Eobert 32 

Gildersleeve 37 

GllAHAM 61 

Glieenhaigh 37 

Hancock, James 41 

Harding, W. E 38, 60 

Haliris, George 41 

Hewitt, Frank 40 

HiNDLE, R 40 

Hollywell, Stephen 61 

HoRSPOOL, Thomas 39,40 

Howard, John 41 

Howes 44 

HowiTT, William 35 

Ireland, John 29 

Jackson 37, 39 

Johnson, J 41 

Johnson, Pete 63 

Kempster 44 

Lang, Tom 37 



Paok. 

Lang, Wihiam 38, 39 

McClellan 69 

McKlNSTRAY 40 

Manning C8 

Marlow 61 

Maxwell 39 

Maxwell, Thomas 35 

Messenger, A. P 69 

Miles, James 34, 43, 41 

Miles, Teddy 38, 67 

Mills 38, 39, 44 

Mole, George 41 

Mooney 67 

mountjoy 32 

MuNROE, George 61, 65 

ISTuTTALL, James 40 

Patton, Hank C5 

Payne 68 

POLTON .62 

Potter, Cockfield 40 

Powell, Foster 27 

PuDNEY, James 1 .37 

Radford, J 65 

Rayner 36 

Redfern, James 34 

Reed, Henry Allen 40, 41 

Richards, William.. 36, 39, 63 

Roberts, J 40 

Robinson, William 41 

Rooney, Ike 64 

RoTHWELL, James 40 

Rowan, John 64 

Sanderson 39 

Seward, George 40, 41 

Shepherd, Williasi 37 

Smith, James 43 

Spooner, W .43 

Stapleton 39 

Stevenson, George 61 

Steprock 37 

Stockwell, James 35, 44 

TOPLEY, G 34, 43, 44, 63 

TowNSEND, John 32 

Waldkon, Jack 63 

Ward. J 29 

Watkins, H 62 

Westhall, Chas. . .32, 40, 41, 42 

Weston 68 

White, John 38 

Whitehead, A 41 

Wild, James 62, 65 

Wood, Abraham 29, 36 

Woulting 31 



INTRODUCTORY. 



It is the intention of the author, who has been a pro- 
fessional pedestrian for some years, and during a portion 
of that time holding the position of ^^ Champion of 
America," in the following pages to introduce to the pub- 
lic a neat and compact book, that can be carried in the 
pocket, on Gymnastic Exercises ; showing the beneficial 
action that results therefrom to the body and mind 
alike. 

Also to treat of the necessary mode of training that 
must be undertaken to fit any person to perform any 
feats of endurance. 

He, however, intends to draw attention more particu- 
larly to the study of the training and dieting required to 
be observed by any aspirant for honors to be obtained in 
pedestrian performances, either walking or running ; as 
also in rowing. 

A record is also added of the perfonnances of celebri- 
ties who figured in walking, running, and rowing, <fec., 
from the year 1773 up to the present date, giving the 
distances of, and time made in each race, and the names 
of the contestants, &c. 



6 INTEODUCTORY. 

These records are an important adjunct to this work, 
and will be, doubtless, of great service to those who take 
an interest in such events. The author has devoted 
much time and particular attention to their compila- 
tion, and guarantees their perfect reliability. 

Such records as these cannot fail to be of immense 
service. He was induced to undertake the labor neces- 
sary to their production, at the instigation of numerous 
friends, who stated it to be their opinion that such a work 
was much needed. 



THE ATHLETE'S GUIDE. 



ON GYMNASTICS. 



Gymnastic exercises have lately attained consid- 
erable popularity, not only in America, but in all 
parts of the world, and it is an admitted fact that 
they tend to improve both the moral and physical 
powers. 

To those who are of a weakly and lymphatic 
nature, the benefit of gymnastic exercises can 
scarcely be over-estimated in their healthful re- 
sults, as by their means the muscular portions of 
the body are stimulated, and the circulation of the 
blood brought to a healthy action, thereby increas- 
ing the action of the organs of digestion, and the 
power of the brain. 

To those who are already possessed of a healthy 
and vigorous physical constitution they afibrd a 
means of keeping that constitution in perfect order, 
and of increasing the powers of the frame and 
mind, while, at the same time, they are a means of 
amusement and recreation for idle hours much 
to be preferred to that obtained in passing one's 



8 ON GYMNASTICS. 

spare time in the company of convivial friends, 
when, as is so often the case, one is induced to 
imbibe freely of those noxious compounds dealt 
out under the title of ^' wines '^ and '' spirits/' but 
whose component parts are of such a nature as to 
exercise the most deleterious effect upon the vital 
powers of even the strongest, and which have, alas, 
in too many cases, brought their followers to an 
untimely grave, or made prematurely old men 
of those who otherwise would be in the prime of 
their strength and manhood. 

To those engaged in sedentary pursuits, the im- 
portance of bracing the muscles and nerves by 
some kind of regular exercise, such as Gymnas- 
tics, is beyond dispute ; if those so engaged were 
even to walk to and from their place of business, 
instead of riding in a crowded car, inhahng the 
foulest of odors emitted from the breath and 
clothes of the steaming passengers, they would in 
a very brief period find their general health con- 
siderably improved. 

Gymnastics may be said to be a series of regu- 
lar and systematic exercises adapted to bring into 
X)lay, and consequently to improve the strength 
and activity of the various muscles in the human 
frame ; imparting a knowledge of the use of each, 
and teaching the pupil the means of employing 
and developing his natural powers to the very best 



ox GYMNASTICS. 9 

advantage. That the proficiency attamed in gym- 
nastic exercises has been most beneficial in some 
cases is undeniable; as, by aid of that proficiency 
which was gained by indulgence in such exercises 
for amusement alone, many young men, as well as 
some of maturer years who had undergone a sys- 
tem of gymnastic training in their youth, have 
been enabled to save their lives at critical mo- 
ments. This has been frequently illustrated, and 
will doubtless have been noticed by many of the 
readers of this work. 

Such exercises deserve, without doubt, to be 
patronized more than they are at the present day, 
and should be incorporated in the system of every 
public and private school throughout the land. 

The ancients, particularly the free States of 
Greece, were fully alive to the importance of at- 
tending to this particular branch of the education 
of their youth ; having frequently to defend their 
liberties and property by the force of arms, either 
against the encroachments of kindred States, or 
the ambition of powerful foreign foes who desired 
to invade their country. They therefore consider- 
ed it highly important to inure their young men to 
hardy, and even violent exercises, so that, in the 
hour of danger, their minds might not be daunted, 
or their bodies sink under the fatigues of war. 

It has been said, perhaps justly, that the young 



10 OlS" GYMK'ASTICS. 

men of the present day have physically consid- I 
erably deteriorated ; preferring to spend their time 
in the enjoyment of enervating and luxurious plea- 
sure, rather than to follow a course of healthful and 
manly exercises, which would not only give them 
greater vigor, but fit them for the natural position 
that all are called upon to fill at some period of 
their lives, viz. : that of husband, and, possibly, 
father of a family. 

If the youth of the present generation would but 
lead frugal and temperate lives, and at the same 
time endeavor to improve their physical health by 
all means within their reach, it might be expected, 
as a natural consequence, that their sons would in 
their day be possessed of constitutions which would 
enable them to not only enter upon their business 
avocations with determination and zeal, but would 
also enable them to compete with the youth of 
other nations in all manly sports. 

The system which unfortunately now prevails is 
due to the inertness of the parents and teachers 
under whose care our children are being brought 
up ; and to it and to them must be attributed the 
sickly and wasted appearance observable in so 
many of the young men of the present day. 



THE GYMNASTIC GROUND. 11 



THE GYMNASTIC GEOUND. 



The following mentioned paraphernalia are neces- 
sary in fitting up a Gymnastic Gromid : 

Horizontal Bar ; Parallel Bars ; Vaulting Horse ; 
Leaping Stand; Climbing Stand; Ladders of Rope; 
plain Swinging Rope; Ropes and Rings; Wood 
Spring-Board ; Pulleys, Cords and Weights, adjust- 
able to imitate the actions gone through as a top 
and bottom sawyer, and in rowing ; set of Dumb 
Bells, and a set of Indian Clubs. 

The best time for practicing Gynmastics is early 
in the morning, but they may also be engaged in 
before dinner in the afternoon, when the stomach 
is not laden with food. Violent exertion of any 
kind should never be indulged in immediately after 
a hearty meal. 

The learner should proceed gradually from the 
easier to the more difiScult exercises, by slow de- 
grees, and, if possible, under the eye and instruc- 
tion of an experienced teacher. Care should be 
taken at all times never to overtax the strength, 
as by so doing injury may be the result, instead of 
benefit. 

Where there are a number of boys, they should 
1)0 divided into classes according to their strength. 



12 THE GYMNASTIC GROU]^D. 

The pupils should, when exercising, wear a pair of 
flannel pants, flannel shirt or Guernsey, and can- 
vas shoes, and as soon as their exercises are com- 
pleted they should strip and rub themselves dry 
with a rough towel, and immediately resume their 
ordinary apparel, which should be sufficiently warm 
to keep them from catching cold. 

In all exercises attention should be paid to place 
the body in such a position that none of its parts 
are exposed to injury; for example, the tongue 
should never be suffered to remain between the 
teeth, and care should also be taken to carry noth- 
ing in the pockets of the exercising dress, as by so 
doing some serious accident might result. 

The left hand and arm being commonly weaker 
than the right, should be the more frequently 
exercised by lifting and carrying of weights, 
and by supporting the body by suspension, until 
it becomes as strong as the other. The use of 
dumb bells and Indian clubs is very advanta- 
geous, but the pupil should be careful not to use 
those of too great weight. Dumb bells of from 4 
to 7 pounds are of more use in developing the 
muscles than those of heavier weights. Clubs 
of from 6 to 9 pounds are also sufficient for all 
ordinary purposes. The pupil should, however, at 
each lesson, begin with both bells and clubs of the 
smallest size, and progress to those of heavier 
calibre towards the conclusion of the lesson. 



TTALKIIS^G AND RUXi^-IXG. 13 

On commencing any exercises the pupil should 

not begin with the most violent; but with the more 

gentlC; and leave off in the same gradual manner. 

Sudden transitions are always dangerous. Never 

let bodily exertion or the attempt to harden the 

frame be carried to excess, but let the object be 

" strengthen the feeble body, and not to exhaust 

id render it languid. All exercises should be 

mducted slowly, and without any jerking action. 

Although walking, running, dancing, balancing, 

aulting, riding, jumping, wrestling, swimming, 

rowing, and all other muscular exercises, may be 

included in the term ^^ Gymnastics/^ the common 

course adopted includes only walking, running, 

jumping, vaulting, and climbing. 



WALKING AND EUNNING. 



Men for walking, running, and all athletic sports, 
should be selected for their health, strength, and 
activity. Proficiency in walking and running will 
come by practice. It is not to be supposed that 
every man can become an accomplished walker or 
runner, but I believe that all can learn something 
worth acquiring. 

The selection being made, the next thing is to 



14 walki:ng a^^d Ku^ra-ii^ra. 

look at the previous habits of the men. These 
habits should not bo changed suddenly; I refer t<; 
such habits as smoking^ chewing, drinking, cav. 
etc., etc. Those who have been accustomed t-- 
indulge in these pernicious habits to an inordinate^ 
extent should w^ean themselves gradually from 
their use before beginning to train, and discon- 
tinue them entirely ten days after commencing 
training. 

The importance of fresh air in the sleeping 
apartment is acknowledged, but not fully appreci- 
ated or acted on. Care should therefore be taken 
to see that the bed-chamber is well ventilated, but 
not draughty. Let any man sleep in a close and ill- 
ventilated room, and in the morning he will wake 
flushed and feverish; and very often with a head- 
ache. 

Every man, to be a walker or runner, should 
have strong and healthy lungs. Unless he has 
these he should never undertake any violent ex- 
ercises, as he must necessarily fail. 

In walking, the arms should move freely by the 
side, the head be kept well up, the stomach in, the 
shoulders back, the feet parallel with the ground, 
and the body resting neither on the toe nor heel, 
but on the ball of the foot. On starting, the pupil 
should raise one foot, keep the knee and instep 
straight, and the toe bent downwards. When one 



WALKLN-G AND P.U2s"Xi:N-Cr. 15 

foot reaches the ground the other should follow, 
and so on until the pupil is able to walk gracefully 
and firmly. The stride should be from the Mps. 
The best walkers of the day scarcely bend their 
knees. This is the best of exercises^ and excels all 
others. 

In running^ the legs should not be raised too high ; 
the arms should be nearly still, so that no unne- 
cessary opposition be given to the air by useless 
motions. Eunning in a circle is excellent exercise, 
but the direction should be reversed occasionally, 
so that both sides may be equally worked. The 
arms should be carried about level with the chest, 
but clear of the body, and the hands be kept 
closed, with something in them, such as a cork cut 
4 inches long and about the thickness of an ordi- 
nary walking cane. 

. Pupils should make frequent use of the spring- 
board, and pay |)articular attention to begin run- 
ning on the toes and afterwards on the ball of the 
foot, keeping the heel clear of the ground. By con- 
stant daily practice, the pupil, who, at commenc- 
ing, could run less than one mile, will be enabled 
to cover ten miles with ease. 

The shoes used in running should be made of the 
best calf- skin, and have five spikes at the bottom ; 
three placed at the outer, and two on the inner side 
of the sole, and each one x>rojecting a quarter of an 



16 PHYSICAL TRAILING. 

inch. The three should start from the small toe^ 
and the two from the large toe^ equally spaced to 
suit the party for whom they are intended. 



PHYSICAL TEAINING. 

The subject of training is one that has long oc- 
cupied the careful attention and consideration of 
some of the most learned men of the country, and 
innumerable methods of physical training have 
been adopted in the colleges and other institutions 
where our youth are reared. 

Walking, running, rowing, billiards, and other 
health-promoting recreations have been tried, and 
have been undoubtedly productive of a very great 
amount of practical good in developing their latent 
physical energies. 

It is pleasing to notice that, under the endorse- 
miCnt of some of the most talented and eminent 
physicians, gymnastic exercises have now become 
exceedingly popular. In one of the Western States 
there is an academy in which a system of physical 
training has been tested for the past two years, 
and with decidedly beneficial results. The pupils 
number over one hundred, and are allowed to use 
all their leisure hours, if they so desire, in indulg- 
ing in all kinds of games and athletic sports. 



PHYSICAL TRAILING. 17 

The exercise of walking and running is eSBcacious 
in driving disease from tlie human system ; this has 
been proved beyond peradventure, and, hke many 
others, has the effect of materially assisting the 
student in the work of culturing the mind, which 
is greatly aided by the healthful operations of the 
functions and organs of the body. 

The plan formerly adopted in colleges, public 
schools, and by private tutors, was to keep the 
brain continually at work by a severe course of 
study, and to allow the body to remain perfectly 
inactive. Under the system now coming into use, 
the exercise of both mind and body are equally 
looked after; thus the healthful influence of the 
one is brought to bear on the other. 

By judicious pedal and muscular exertion, the 
motions gone through reach every part of the frame, 
and they completely dispel languor and inactivity. 
The tension of the muscles is trebled, and the 
blood, flowing sluggishly in remote an'd undisturbed 
portions of the body, is urged and quickened in its 
circulation by the relaxing and contracting of the 
muscles ; the brain is stimulated into new activity 
by the lively bounding current within, and thus 
is more apt to absorb whatever is presented to it ; 
while at the same time the memory is considerably 
improved and strengthened. 



18 TKAIKING POR WALKIKG AND RUIfNII^G. 



ON TKAINING FOR WALKING AND RUN- 
NING. 

The following remarks and instructions with re- 
gard to the necessary training required for en- 
gaging in a walking match^ or running race, will 
he of service to hoth amateurs and professionals. 
The latter have generally their own rules for pre- 
paring themselves for a contest, but still they may 
gain some knowledge by reading the following 
instructions. 

We will suppose that you have been matched 
for some contest to happen in two or three weeks ; 
it will, therefore, be necessary to commence work 
at once. The first thing is to take a mild purga- 
tive, consisting of a blue pill at night, and a 
draught of salts and senna in the morning, adding 
to it a little essence of Jamaica ginger, to prevent 
griping. 

You must rise at 5 A. M., and at once get into 
a shower-bath, or, if that is not at hand, a sponge- 
bath can be taken instead, after which, rub the 
body well with a rough bath towel or a flesh-brush 
until the friction creates a glow. Then dress your- 
self in flannels and take a wine-glass of good 
sherry, with a fresh (^gg beaten up in it. Put on 



TRAIXIXG FOR WALKING AXD RUlS^^rN-G. 19 

a pair of walking shoes with thick soles and a half 
pound of sheet lead in each. The uppers should 
be made of soft calf-skin (these shoes may be 
afterwards changed for lighter ones as the condi- 
tion becomes line), and start out for an hour's 
walk at the rate of four miles an hour, which rate 
of speed must be increased daily as you get 
stronger. If the weather does not permit of out- 
door walking you can practice on a spring-board 
or use a skipping rope. 

On returning from the walk, or after using the 
spring-board or skipping rope, the body should be 
rubbed dry with a rough towel. 

Breakfast should then be taken, consisting of a 
lean beefsteak, stale bread or toast (butter or 
greasy m.ittor of any kind should never be allow- 
ed), and half a pint of tea, not too strong, with the 
smallest possible quantity of milk in it. The beef- 
steak may be supplanted by a mutton-chop, or two 
hard-boiled eggs, by way of variety. All food 
should be eaten slowly, and be well masticated 
before it is allowed to pass into the stomach. 

After breakfast look over the morning papers 
for an hour, so as to give time for the digestive 
organs to do their part. The work of reducing 
• the superfluous flesh, or sweating, as it is techni- 
cally called, must now begin. This is done by 
l)utting on several thicknesses of flannel over those 



.20 TIIAINI]^G FOR T7ALKIKG AI^TD RUNIs^IiN^G. 

parts that are loaded with fat. The neck should 
be encased in a close woolen shawl, or comforter, 
and, when thus clothed, take a walk of about five 
miles the first day, and increase the distance daily, 
until within two days of the race ; but you must 
be careful not to reduce yourself so much as to 
cause weakness. Flannel should alivays be worn 
next to the skin, as it absorbs the perspiration 
and prevents chill. 

On returning to the dressing-room after the 
sweating, the wet flannels should be immediately 
thrown off, and a shower or sponge -bath be taken, 
and the body should afterwards be well rubbed 
with a coarse towel, as previously recommended. 
Fresh flannels should then be put on. ( This sys- 
tem is practiced by the leading athletes of the 
day.) The bath invigorates the body and stops all 
feeling of lassitude and fatigue. 

After dressing, it is advisable to keep moving 
about until the pores of the skin are closed and 
the body is perfectly cooled down to its natural 
temperature. In a few days the system will have 
become accustomed to the extra call upon its pow- 
ers, and you will be enabled to increase both the 
pace and distance of the morning sweating exer- 
cise without feeling any fatigue whatever. 

Dinner should be partaken of between one and 
two o'clock P. M. It should consist of a piece of 

• 



TRAINHS-G FOE T\"ALKIXG AND RUNNIlS^a. 21 

roast-beef or mutton, about twelve ounces in weight, 
very lean, and not too much cooked, with three 
boiled potatoes, and a small portion of other vege- 
tables, such as carrots, or string-beans, etc., if you 
be costive. No vegetables must be eaten, on any 
account, within a day or so of the match or race. 
The bread at all meals must be either stale or 
toasted. Some trainers allow ale to be taken at 
dinner, but in my opinion tea is much better. 

After dinner a rest of at least sixty minutes 
should be aUowed; then take a run or walk, ac- 
cording to what you are training for. One fact 
should be remembered, and that is, you will not 
require as much reducing if you are going to run 
or walk a long race, as you would in the case of a 
short one. 

If you are to walk or run a race of ten miles you 
should, in your training, cover that distance one 
day, and five miles the following day, and so on 
until the day before the event takes place, when 
almost perfect rest should be indulged in. If you 
are training for a short race, the distance should 
be covered as often as possible. 

On returning from the afternoon exercise, the 
rubbing down process should be again gone 
through, but without the bath, and the clothes be 
changed as before. Bear in mind never to loiter 
or stand about after exercising, and, above all, 
never lay down on the ground. 



22 TRAiNi:N'a fok walki^^g ai^d PvUisr]s-i:N"G. 

Starting should be practiced, as much depends 
upon getting well away when the signal is given. 
Many a pedestrian has lost a race from not at- 
tending to this particular point in his training. 

Supper should be had at 6 o'clock, and should 
consist of either a lean mutton-chop, or a broiled 
chicken or fowl, according to fancy, with stale 
bread or toast, and a pint of good tea without 
much milk. 

If, by accident, you should take cold, instead of 
eating meat for supper, take a basin of oat -meal 
gruel with five ounces of grocers' currants boiled in 
it, and some dry toast. The gruel is easing to the 
chest, and the currants act gently on the bowels, 
but if very costive take a dose of castor-oil. 

On going to bed at 9 o'clock the feet should be 
washed in alcohol, and goose-grease be well rubbed 
into the joints. This must be repeated in the 
morning on rising. 

The bed-chamber should be airy, and no one 
but the trainer should be allowed to sleep in the 
same room, as more breaths are unwholesome. 
Particular care should be taken to see that there 
are no draughts in the room, or you might other- 
wise catch cold. You should also not be over- 
loaded with covering, as restlessness, and conse- 
quently sleeplessness, will resul* in many cases. 

On the day of the contest you should not over- 



Ils^TOXICATI]S"G DBrN"E:S. 23 

tax yourself, but only take a light walk before 
breakfast, which should consist of a mutton chop, 
dry toast, and a httle tea. Less drink should bo 
taken on this day than previously, if possible. 
About two hours before the race, a liglit meal is 
necessary, and after it has digested a rest of one 
hour in bed is proper, as near where the contest is 
to take place as practicable, and while your friends 
are selecting judge, ground, referee, &c., you must 
keep as quiet and free from excitement as possible. 
When the preliminaries and all other arrange- 
ments are perfected, you may rise and let your 
friends give your muscles a brisk rubbmg 5 then rinse 
out your mouth with a little good sherry, and after- 
wards with pure cold water. If it is to be a long 
race, a httle toast and sherry, taken a short time 
before the start, will be a considerable assistance. 



SHOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF ABSTAIN- 
ING FROM INTOXICATING DRINKS. 

It is most important that a pedestrian or athlete 
should, when training, abstain from intoxicating 
beverage. 

Man has been supplied by nature with an organ- 
ization of stomach capable of assimilating, and 



24 ixTOXTCATi:N^rx brinks. 

thereby digesting, every substance of the vegetable 
and animal kingdoms, not actually poisonous ; but 
this valuable gift is made less serviceable, and 
sometimes perfectly impotent, from a want of 
knowledge how to prepare them properly as food, 
how to eat them when rightly prepared, and from 
an undue use of stimulating alcoholic compounds. 

These who live fast and dissolute lives, and 
drink, without regard to consequences, all kinds of 
poisonous liquors, are sure to fill early graves. 
The use of malt liquors is considered by some 
trainers to be of benefit, and nutritious to the sys- 
tem, but I consider it a perfect fallacy. A person 
of good digestion, who satisfies the requirements 
of his stomach with a five-cent loaf of bread and a 
glass of water, does more to promote the formation 
of muscular fibre in his body, by this simple diet 
resolving itself into twenty times the amount of 
farina and saccharine matter (the basis of malt), 
than ten cents^ worth of beer could yield, and this, 
too, with the immediate certainty of its being con- 
verted into animal tissue. 

Temperance in all things is essential to good 
health, and especially to an athlete, or any one 
that aims at walking a fast race, or clipping an 
opponent in a rowing match. 

A practical example, and one that is worthy of 
imitation, is offered by the hardy chamois hunters 



IXTOXICATIXG DRIXKS. 25 

of the Alps. They rigidly abstain from the use of 
intoxicating drinks. Their lives are often depend- 
ent upon a quick eye, calm mind, steady hand, 
strong muscles, and a sure foot, and none of these 
requisites could be obtained, or depended upon, 
were they to give way to intemperate habits. How 
much the more should our athletes adopt the same 
system, when the fact is taken into consideration 
that here they have not the same degree of cold, 
or the same vicissitudes of life to encounter. 

Tom Sayers, the champion of England, could 
never have fought and won so many battles, had 
he not been prepared for his contest on actual 
total abstinence principles. A gentleman once said 
to this renowned hero of the prize ring, ''Well, 
Tom, now that you are in training, of course you 
must take a deal of nourishment, such as beefsteaks, 
ale, stout, etc., etc,'^ to which Sayers answered, 
' ' 111 tell you what it is, sir, I'm no teetotaller, and 
in my time have drunk a good deal more than is 
good for me, but when I've any 'business' to do, 
there's nothing like walking, water, and the dumb- 
bells." 

Not only are intoxicating liquors injurious to 
pupils in training, but the use of tobacco is equally 
so in all its forms. Drink is unquestionably need- 
ed, but Providence has supplied our wants in that 



26 INTOXICATING DRINKS. 

respect by furnishing us with ^^ honest water, too 
pure to be a sinner." 

Dr. Hunter has furnished the following table^ 
which shows the amount of alcohol contained in 
the various liquors mentioned : 

Lagerbeer has from 2i to Si per cent. 

Strong beer is variable, but has a larger per 
cent, than lager. 

Porter has from 4 to 7 per cent. 

Taylor's ale has 5 to 10 per cent. 

Cider from 4 to 10 per cent. 

Pale ale contains 5 to 9 per cent. 

Ale, or common beer, contains 6i per cent. 

Port wine has 23 per cent. 

Gin has 51.60 per cent. 

Brandy has 53.39 per cent. 

Rum has 53.68 per cent. 

Whiskey has 53.90 per cent. 

It will thus be seen that the above enumerated 
liquors are injurious in either a greater or lesser 
degree, and their use should, therefore, be avoided. 
Sherry wine, as stated before, may be excepted. 



THE BENEFITS OE TRAIKIKG. 27 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE BENEFITS OF 
TRAINING. 

Without training, no man can run or walk a mile 
or two in quick time. If he should attempt to do 
so he is nearly sure to injure his health and con- 
stitution. Some ambitious amateurs try to run a 
race without training^ and consequently fail. They 
lay the fault to the distance not being suited to 
them ; the fault, however, is not to be attributed 
to that reason, but to the fact that they have un- 
dergone no preparation to fit them for the contest. 

If they had taken regular exercise day after day, 
they would be able to run a mile inside of five 
minutes, and would gradually become faster if 
they continued to practice and train. 

As an example of what training will enable a 
man to do in covering short and long distances in 
quick time, the following record of celebrated 
pedestrians, from the year 1773 up to the present 
date, will show : 

Among the earliest of these celebrated men, 
were Foster Powell, a Yorkshireman ; Captain 
Barclay, of Rye •, and Daniel Crisp, of Norfolk, 
England. 

Foster Powell, who was a lawyer's clerk, under- 



28 THE BE]S"EriTS OE TRAi:N^]nTG. 

took; in the year 1773^ to walk 394 miles inside of 
6 days, for a wager of £100. He won, and had 5 
liours and 40 minutes to spare. In November, 
1778, he tried to run 2 miles in 10 minutes, but 
failed by 30 seconds. In the beginning of 1787 he 
walked 112 miles in 23 hours and 50 minutes ; and 
in July of the same year he wagered 1 00 guineas 
that he would walk 100 miles in 22 hours. He ac- 
complished the task with 8 minutes to spare. In 
August, 1790, he accepted a wager of 20 guineas 
to 13 that he would walk from London to York 
and return to London in 5 days and 18 hours. He 
won, having 1 hour and 50 minutes to spare. In 
June, 1791, he was matched to walk from Shore- 
ditch, London, to York and back in 5 days and 15 
hours. He was again the winner, with 1 hour and 
25 minutes to spare. 

Captain Barclay (Allardice), of Eye, was bom in 
August, 1779. After studying at Kichmond, Eng- 
land, he completed his education at Cambridge 
University. For physical endurance few men have 
been so celebrated. His muscula^r strength, when 
only twenty years of age, was so great that he lifted 
1176 pounds, and at a later period threw a half 
hundred weight, with a straight arm, a distance of 
eight yards. From his youth upward his love for 
gymnastic exercises was marked. His plain style 
of living and constant exercise caused him to be 



THE BEISTEFITS OF TRAILING. 29 

nearly always in first-class condition. In 1801 he 
matched himself for 2,000 guineas to walk 90 miles 
in 21i hours ; but; as we have already said^ with- 
out training difficult running or walking feats can- 
not be successful ; so it was with Barclay — he failed 
through insufficient training, and, becoming sick, 
gave up the task. After he recovered he went into 
regular training for some time, and then again at- 
tempted the feat for a wager of 5,000 guineas. He 
being now in good condition, won, and had 1 hour, 

7 minutes and 56 seconds to spare. In 1803 he 
ran 440 yards with J. Ward, and won in 56 seconds. 
In 1804 he beat an officer of the 48th Eegiment, 
and also John Ireland, a noted swift runner. The 
latter and Barclay were matched to run 1 mile for 
500 guineas. Barclay was the winner in 4 minutes 
and 50 seconds. On the 12th of October, 1807, he 
made a 24 hour^s match against Abraham Wood, 
for 200 guineas, Barclay to be allowed 20 miles at 
starting. It was decided at Newmarket Heath. 
A measured and roped mile was used by both men, 
who were to go as far as they could in the time 
specified, either running or walking. Wood made 

8 miles the first hour ; 7 each in the second and 
third 5 6 i- in the fourth ; 6 in the fifth ; and 5i in 
the sixth — total 40 miles. Barclay went exactly 
six miles an hour during the same time, thus reach- 
ing 36 miles. Wood here gave up the contest and 



30 THE BENEFITS OE TRAII^IIs'G. 

retired ; but Barclay went 4 miles further and won 
the stakes and bets. It afterwards transpired that 
when Wood had completed 22 miles, some liquid 
containing laudanum was administered to him, 
and the bets at TattersalFs were in consequence 
declared off. Barclay's next match was for a 
wager of 1,000 guineas, in which he bound himself 
to go on foot, one mile in each hour, for 1,000 con- 
secutive hours. This feat was performed at New- 
market Heath ; the course being half a mile out, 
p;nd the same distance back to Buckle's house. 
Lamps were used to light the way during the 
uight. After training for some weeks at Owston, in 
Yorkshire, under M. Smith, an old sportsman, and 
his son, Barclay started on his task at 12 o'clock, 
on the night of June 1st, 1809. He walked with- 
out the least apparent exertion, scarcely raising 
his feet from the ground. On dry days a water 
cart went over the track and sprinkled it to keep it 
cool, and prevent hardness. He changed his ap- 
parel with the weather, which, however, on the 
whole, favored him, as it was in the rainy season. 
As time passed he suffered in his right leg from a 
spasmodic affection, and a few days before the fin- 
ish every mile occupied 20 minutes. His appetite 
continued good throughout, and betting, after his 
limbs had recovered their wonted strength, went 
from 2 to 1 on him, to 10 to 1. The crowd became 



THE BENEFITS OF TRAIXIXG. 31 

SO great a day or two before the finish that it was 
found necessary to rope the ground, and several 
pugilists, who had been supported by Barclay in 
their engagements, assisted to keep off the roughs. 
At 4 P. M., July 12th, this great and wonderful 
undertaking was completed after walking a mile 
every hour for 6 weeks minus 8 hours. At the 
995th mile the Earl of Jersey offered £100 to £1 on 
Barclay, with no takers. The last mile was com- 
pleted in 15 minutes. Barclay won, it was estimat- 
ed, at least £20,000. Professor Sandiver, an emi- 
nent surgeon, who had watched the proceedings 
throughout, gave it as his opinion that Barclay 
could have continued walking at the same place 
and time for quite two weeks longer. No one else 
has ever accomplished this feat up to the present 
day, although many have attempted it and failed, 
and several claim to have done it. 

Daniel Crisp, in 1802, walked a mile in 7 minutes 
and 50 seconds on the City Eoad, London, England. 
In 1317 he walked on the Uxbridge Eoad, England, 
1,134 miles in 21 consecutive days, being 54 miles 
daily, and finished the task with one hour and 
twenty minutes to spare, in the presence of 10,000 
spectators. In 1818, on the same road, he comple- 
ted 1 ,037 miles in 17 days, equal to 61 miles daily. 
The river Thames overflowed its banks during this 
undertaking, and Crisp had to wade through a 



32 THE BEl^EFITS OF TEAINIKG. 

quarter of a mil« five times. Later in the same 
year he walked 72 miles every day for 6 consecu- 
tive days on the Andover road^ and won his wager 
by 26 minutes. 

Eobert Fuller^ in 1838, walked 60 miles against 
Townsend, on Sudbury Common, England, defeat- 
ing him and walking the distance in 11 hours, 36 
minutes. His opponent fell out at 35 miles. In 
November, 1843, he was beaten by Bradshaw, a 
youth of eighteen, who covered 25 miles in the 
then first-class time of 3 hours and 59 minutes. 

Those who are next entitled to notice are John 
Townsend, ^Hhe Veteran'^; Eobert Fuller; Mount- 
joy; Charles Westhall; W. Spooner, of Swindon, 
England ; James Miles, of Brixton ; George Top- 
ley ; George Dawson ; J. Howes, and James Eed- 
fern. 

Mountjoy is principally known for his ^' road- 
side'^ performances, which were never zealously 
watched by competent time-keepers ; but there can 
be no doubt of his claim to be classed among the 
best men of his day, as several of his races have 
proved. In February, 1843, at Ealing, England, 
he walked 20 miles in 3 hours, 36 minutes, 10 sec- 
onds. He is also famous for walking 60 or 70 
miles per diem for several successive days. 

Charles Westhall, the greatest of all pedestrians, 
was born in London, March 6th, 1823. He was in- 



THE BENEFITS OF TRAINIjS^G. 33 

tended for the medical profession, but, while study- 
ing at St. George's Hospital, London, England, he 
was taken with a fever for athletic sports and 
training. When quite a youth he won 19 boat 
races in succession, but, meeting with a reverse, he 
said: ''If I cannot be amateur champion of the 
Thames, I will be champion at another sport." In 
1848 he undertook, at the instance of the Marquis 
of Waterford, to walk 20 miles in 3 hours. Lord 
Caledon had, about six weeks prior to this match, 
bet the Marquis of Waterford £200 to £100 that 
no person could fairly cover the distance in the 
time specified. The race came off at Harlington 
Corner. The Hon. C. Maynard was referee ; Cap- 
tain Archdale, M. P., umpire for Lord Waterford, 
and the Hon. Eobert Lawley, then a Captain in the 
Second Life Guards, acting in the same capacity 
for Lord Caledon. Westhall, at this time 25 years 
old, weighed 138 pounds, and was the model of an 
athlete ; his height being 5 feet, 9^ inches. He start- 
ed full of confidence in his powers, and completed 
7 miles in 58 minutes, 16 seconds; 14 miles in 2 
hours, 1 minute and 31 seconds ; and finally won 
by 2 minutes, 30 seconds. 

In February, 1858, Westhall achieved the ex- 
ploit which has rendered his name famous wher- 
ever pedestrian feats are appreciated, viz. : the 
walking of 21 miles in 3 hours. This was looked 



34 THE BENEFITS OF TRAIXIXG. 

upon at that time as an impossibility, and therefore 
he attempted it on the London and Cambridge 
Koad, at Newmarket. The day set down for the 
event proved very windy ; a cart with a screen 
affixed was therefore driven by his side. He covered 
7 miles in 56 minutes ; 14 miles in 1 hour, 55 min- 
utes, 50 seconds, and won his wager by 59 seconds. 
This time has been beaten by Davison. Another 
marvelous ^Hime event" was performed by Bar- 
clay in the previous year (1857) at Slough, England, 
when he walked 7i miles in 58 minutes, 25 seconds. 

James Miles tried to walk 21 miles in 3 hours in 
1862, but failed to finish within the required time, 
although he made the distance in 3 hours and 10 
minutes. He walked on another occasion 5 miles 
in 39 minutes, 15 seconds. 

George Topley is also on record for accomplish- 
ing some great feats. He walked 8 miles in 59 
minutes, 39 seconds ; 9 miles in 1 hour, 12 minutes, 
and 48 seconds, and 15 miles in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 
10 seconds. In December, 1865, he is said to have 
walked 21 miles in 3 hours. It was dusk long 
before he finished, and there were several appeals 
to the judges about his unfair way of walking, or 
rather running. However, it is not on record. 

James Redfern is accredited with walking 50 
miles in 9 hours, 34 minutes, 3 seconds. 

W. Boyd is credited with having walked the fast- 



THE BENEFITS OF TRAIXIXG. 35 

est mile on record, viz. : in 6 minutes, 42 seconds ; 
which feat has, up to the present day, never been 
beaten. 

James Stockwell, who was also a great pedestrian, 
walked 2 miles in 14 minutes, 33 seconds : and 3 
miles in 22 minutes, 13 seconds. 

James Adams, who now resides in this country, 
has made the fastest 4 mile walking time, viz. : in 
30 minutes, 34 seconds. He accomplished this feat 
in England. 

Thomas Maxwell, better known as the ^^ North 
Star," ran 20 miles at Longford, in 1845, taking 
£14 to £20 that he would perform the distance in 
2 hours. He got half way in 55 minutes, 31 seconds, 
and won eventually by 17 seconds, making the 
whole distance in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 43 seconds. 
In 1846 he was again matched to accomplish the 
same feat for £300, and he won in 1 hour, 58 minutes, 
30 seconds. 

Wm. Howitt, better known as ^^ the American 
Deer," undertook in 1852 to run 20 miles. He com- 
pleted 11 miles in 40 seconds under an hour, and 
15 miles in 1 hour, 22 minutes, but, unluckily, be- 
came so lame that he had to stop. Howitt also 
ran 5 miles in 24 minutes, 36 seconds, which was 
the fastest time on record until Jan. 26th, 1867, 
when the same distance was accomplished, at Al- 
bany, New York, in 23 minutes, 59 seconds, by the 
author. 



36 THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING-. 

Wm. Richards, in 1864, ran 15 miles in ] hour, 26 
minutes, 40 seconds. 

Coupled with early records of the principal ra- 
ces under a dozen miles, we find the names of 
Blumsell, the ^^ painter;" Rayner; old John Brown, 
of Kirhy; old Moorside, the ^^ cobbler;'^ Abraham 
Wood; Beteridge, and a score of others. The 
standard as to time, up to this date, had hitherto 
been 10 miles an hour ; 4 miles in 21 i minutes ; 2 
miles in 10 minutes and 10 seconds; 1 in 5 min- 
utes ; half a mile in 2 minutes and 7 seconds ; and 
440 yards in one minute. Men able to beat any of 
the above named times were difficult to find, al- 
though in odd cases they were sometimes found, 
as we shall presently show. 

In 1818, Blumsell and Rayner ran 10 miles for 
200 guineas, the former winning easily in 58 min- 
utes and 56 seconds. 

Old John Brown, some years later, ran 8 miles 
in 41 minutes and 50 seconds, when he beat Moor- 
side, the ^^ cobbler.'^ 

Abraham Wood, who, up to 1830, was considered 
the fleetest runner that ever lived, once covered 10 
miles in 55 minutes. He also ran 20 miles in 2 
hours and 15 minutes ; and 40 miles in 4 hours and 
56i- minutes, at Newmarket. He ran half a mile 
on another occasion in 2 minutes and 6 seconds, 
at Pontefract. Other extraordinary feats are at- 



THE BEXEFITS OF TRAIXIXG. 37 

tributed to him, but no reliable record ts to be 
found of them. 

Beteridge ran 10 miles in 55 minutes and 4 sec- 
onds, and afterwards tried to cover an extra mile 
within the hour, but killed himself in the attempt. 

During 1844 several large prizes were offered to 
be run for in this country, and two of England's 
best runners came across the Atlantic to compete 
for them. One of these men, John Barlow, alias 
Sallack, of Cochney Moor (who is now a pilot on 
the East Eiver), won the first prize, $700, by 32 
seconds. Steprock, an Indian, came in second ; 
Greenhaigh, the other Englishman, third, and the 
celebrated Gildersleeve, fourth. The winner's time 
was, for 10 miles, 54 minutes and 21 seconds — the 
fastest on record up to that date. 

Since then, viz., in 1845, William Howitt, better 
known as ^^the American Deer," and William 
Shepherd were matched to run one hour, on the 
Hatfield Turnpike road, near Barnet, England. 
Shepherd gave up after running 10 miles, but Jack- 
son accomplished in the given time 11 miles, 40 
yards, 2 feet and 4 inches. In 1852 this feat was 
eclipsed by the same runner. 

In 1856 James Pudney ran 10 miles at Oxford, 
England, in 57 minutes and 20 seconds. 

In 1863 Tom Lang, of Manchester, England, and 
Lou. Bennet, of this city, met at Brompton, Eng- 



38 THE BE:srEEITS OF TEAIXIKG. 

land, in a 12 mile handicap. Lang won by a yard, 
in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 2i seconds. 

Deerfoot, during the same year, ran Hi miles in 
59 minutes and 54 seconds, for a stake of £200, 
and also 11 miles and 790 yards in an hour race at 
Hampton Wick, against Teddy Mills, of Bethnal 
Green. 

In a contest for the champion's cup, between 
Bill Lang and John White, in 1863, they ran 3 
miles in 14 minutes and 36 seconds ; 4 miles in 19 
minutes and 36 seconds ; 5 miles in 24 minutes and 
45 seconds ; 6 miles in 29 minutes and 50 seconds ; 
and 7 miles in 34 minutes, after which Lang re- 
signed. This was the best time then made at those 
distances, though Mills, in the same year, covered 
6 miles in 30 minutes and 9 seconds. 

There have been many close competitions at two 
miles. The following are some of the principal : 

In 1860 White made the distance in 9 minutes 
and 30 seconds ^ and again in 1861 in 9 minutes 
and 20 seconds. 

In 1862 Brighton covered the same ground in 
9 minutes and 36 seconds. In 1863 Lang did it in 
9 minutes and 11 seconds ; 1864, Mills, in 9 minutes 
and 37 seconds. 

At the Union Eace Course, L. I., W. E. Harding 
made 2 miles, in a race with Ike Kooney, in 8 
minutes and 39i seconds, according to the judges. 
It was, however, not credited. 



THE BENEFITS OE TKAI^^ING. 43 

the first and only time that the feat had been 
walked on a turnpike road. 

W. Spooner, of Turnham G-reen, next essayed to 
accomplish the task at the Copenhagen grounds, 
Manchester^ on March 8th, 1858, the backer of 
time laying £50 to £40. The Lancastrians, how- 
t ever, were not to be gulled by his style ; they made 
r him keep somewhat down, and Master Billy failed 
ignominiously, as he only covered 17f miles in 2 
hours, 34 minutes. 

The fourth trial was made by James Miles, of 
Brixton, at Grarratt Lane, on Aug. 11, 1862, for £50 
a side, but at little more than 16 miles he left off, 
his time for that distance being 2 hours, 20 min- 
utes, 33 seconds. He moved for a new trial, and 
the case was decided before a full court at Garratt 
Lane, on September 29, 1862, when the verdict was ' 
again adverse to him, as he occupied 10 seconds 
more than the allotted time. 

On December 26, 1865, Gr. Topley, for a bet of 
£30 to £20, endeavored to fulfill the conditions, 
but as the most important part of the match was 
decided in the dark, perhaps the least that is said 
about this affair the better. 

Davison attempted it once before, at the West 
London grounds, July, 1868. It was the hottest 
day of the year, but he kept on until nearly 16 
miles had been finished in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 20 



44 THE BENEFITS OF TRAINHSTG. 

seconds. Davison was born on the 2d of Septem- 
bei; 1844; stands 5 feet^ 9i inches^ and scaled 141 
pounds— about 3 pounds heavier than in his match 
with Brown on the previous Monday. He made 
his first appearance as a walker about five years 
ago, when he defeated J. Criss, of Bethnal Green, 
who gave him 100 yards^ start in 2 miles for £5 a 
side, at these grounds ) beat Brewster 2 miles for 
£5 a side, at Bow grounds ; beat Howes 7 miles, 
£10 a side, at Hackney Wick; beat Beagen, who 
had 1 minute start in 7 miles, for£ 50 ; walked 7\ miles 
in 1 hour, for £50 ; beat Howes^ who had 2 minutes 
in 7 miles, for £ 10 a side ] beat Kempster, who had 1 
minute start in 7 miles, for £50 ; beat James Miles, 
who gave 1 minute start in 7 miles, for £50; 
walked a dead heat in an 8 mile walk with James 
Miles, of Brixton ; and eventually beat him for the 
same stake, and subsequently beat Mills in an 8 
mile walk for £50, and a 12 mile match for £100; 
beat Stockwell 10 miles for £100, at Brompton, on 
Oct. 5th, 1867; beat George Topley, who gave 1 
minute start in 14 miles, for £50, the following- 
month ; failed to walk 21 miles in 3 hours for £100, 
at Brompton, on July, 20th, 1868 ; walked a drawn 
match with Topley, and lastly beat R. Brown, of 
Eegent's Park, who had 1 minute start in an 8 
mile walk, for £50, on Monday, Nov. 29th. He has 
also been very successful in a number of walking 
handicaps. 



THE BENEFITS OE TRAINING. 45 

The weather was bitterly cold and damp, ac- 
companied by a slight north-easterly wind; not- 
withstanding which offers of 6 to 4 on Davison met 
with no response. For this event he had trained 
himself at these gromids, and looked fit to walk 
for a kingdom. It had been arranged that the 
start should take place at one o'clock, but Master 
George, having, in his anxiety to get to the scratch 
in time, forgot to take a meal before leaving home, 
was constrained to hastily swallow a chop and a 
glass of ale. This delayed the start until 27 min- 
utes past one, when Mr. Jenn, who officiated as 
time-keeper and referee, gave the signal, and Davi- 
son commenced his arduous task, having for his 
attendant Jem Gregory, who never left him 
throughout the match. Although Davison ap- 
peared to be taking it easily, he walked the first 
lap (260 yards) in exactly 60 seconds, and, continu- 
ing in the same fair and upright style, completed 
the first mile in 7 minutes, 22 seconds (142 circuits 
of the course and 40 yards to complete the distance). 
Seven miles were walked in 54 minutes, 10 seconds, 
and when 1 hour had elapsed he had traversed 7 
miles, 1,380 yards. Half the distance was ac- 
complished in 1 hour, 21 minutes, 33 seconds, 
and at 14 miles and a lap, finding he had plen- 
ty of time in hand, he partook of some tea and 
toast. Fifteen miles were fairly walked in two 



46 THE BE:N'EFITS of TEAIXrts^G. 

minutes and nineteen seconds under 2 hours, a feat 
hitherto deemed impossible. As the time mea- 
surer denoted two hours^ Davison had walked 15 
miles and 508 yards. His exertions now began to 
tell perceptibly, and at the 117th lap he stopped 
for a few seconds to have some more refreshment, 
after which he went on with renewed vigor, but in 
a few laps the pace at which he had been going 
again told its tale, and his stride was much shorter, 
despite which 2 to 1 was freely offered on the pe- 
destrian. Old Chronos, however, seemed to have 
no friends, and, although in difficulties, Davison 
had so much in hand that no person could — unless 
he completely broke down — expect him to fail. 
He persevered gamely, and, cheered by the shouts 
of his friends, eventually won by six minutes^ twen- 
ty-six seconds. Appended is a table of the time 
occupied in walking each mile : — 

1 mile 7m.22s. Oh. 7 m. 22 s. 

2miles 7 m. 39 s. h. 15 m. Is. 

3 miles 7 m. 55 s. h. 22 m. 56 s. 

4 miles 7 m. 51 s. Oh. 30 m. 50 s. 

5 miles 7 m. 50 s. Oh. 38 m. 40 s. 

6 miles 7 m. 55 s. Oh. 46 m. 35 s. 

7 miles 7 m. 35 s. Oh. 54 m. 10 s. 

Smiles 7 m. 38 s. 1 h. 1 m. 48 s. 

9 miles 7 m. 53 s. 1 h. 9 m. 41 s. 

10 miles 7 m. 52 s. 1 h. 17 m. 33 s. 

lOi miles 1 h. 21 m. 33 s. 

11 miles 7 m. 57 s. 1 h. 25 m. 30 s. 

12 miles 7 m. 56 s. 1 h. 33 m. 26 s. 

13 miles 8 m. Is. 1 h. 41 m. 27 s. 

14miles 8 m. s. 1 h. 49 m. 27 s. 



THE BEXEFITS OP TKAIXIXG. 47 

15 miles 8 m. 14 s. 1 h. 57 m. 41 s. 

16 Diiles 8 m. 20 s. 2 h. 6 m. Is. 

17 miles 8 m. 35 s. 2 h. 14 m. 36 s. 

Idmiles 9m. 4 s. 2 h. 23 m. 40 s. 

19miles 9 m. 22 s. 2 h. 33 m. 2 s. 

20 miles 9 m. 46 3. 2 h. 42 m. 48 s. 

21 miles 10 m. 46 s. 2 h. 53 m. 34 s. 

The deduction to be drawn from the above facts 
is that speed, rather than endurance, has received 
attention for several years past, although several 
have endeavored to accomplish long feats of en- 
durance in America ; but, as the performances were 
doubtful, they have not been placed on record. 

The great time matches in England, prior to 
1858, took place on Turnpike roads, but police in- 
terference checked them, and now they are of 
very rare occurrence. Probably this is one of the 
principal causes of their decay, for the love of 
athletics, on both sides of the Atlantic, is far 
greater now than ever, and pedestrians must blame 
themselves alone for lack of patronage. There 
have also, of late years, been so many ^^ crones" 
and swindles that the pubhc, much enduring and 
credulous, will not be put upon any longer. They 
have seen for themselves; and, besides, the sport- 
ing press has made its voice heard times innumer- 
able. In my opinion, if Captain Barclay could 
reappear to-morrow in full vigor, he would have a 
greater number of supporters, and be even more 
idohzed than of yore. His feats are read of with 



48 THE BENEFITS OF TRAINI:N^G. 

avidity by the young men of America, as well as 
by those of England, whose love for all that is 
manly, self-reliant, and enduring, appears to be 
greater than ever. 

Besides, physical training, foot racing, and 
walking, and all its belongings, are far better un- 
derstood now than formerly, and pedestrians have 
found out that they cannot accomplish anything 
without living abstemiously, hard training, and 
plenty of exercise. They have also learned that 
*^ time^' is now the great criterion; that a second 
and 10 yards are equivalent in a sprint; that 7 or 
8 yards during a quarter of a mile race must be 
done in every second, and 5 or 6 yards a second in 
a mile race. Walking varies greatly, but a mile 
under 8 minutes is really very fair work ; even to 
proceed at this rate, 3i yards must be covered 
every second ; while men who set themselves up 
for champions must cover 4 yards in a second. 

In the sketch that I have given of the most no- 
ted pedestrians, it will be seen that none of these 
men could have traveled the distances that they 
did if they had not prepared themselves for their 
races by physical training. The reader can also 
see the benefit that is derived from long walks, 
plenty of water, and coarse towels, and limited 
diet ; and that those who are trained pedestrians 
can make faster time than those who are not. 



ox train^jS^g for boat EAcixa. 49 

By following the directions recommended in 
the early pages of this work any young man may 
attain to activity and have good health, and will 
not become old before his time. Too much exer- 
cise must also be avoided ; both amateurs and 
professionals are cautioned against it. 



ON TRAINING FOE BOAT EACING. 

Too much care cannot be taken in selecting 
men for race-rowing ] they should neither be too 
young nor too old. If young, they should be care- 
fully watched and drilled, holding, as the first prui- 
ciple, the future health and strength of the body. 
A man should never be selected for his proficiency, 
nor from willingness alone ; for many a young man 
possesses these qualities, who has not the physical 
power of development or endurance. 

Exertion should in no case be of such a nature, 
or continued to such an extent, as to become ex- 
haustive, or to exceed the powers of recruitment 
furnished by diet and rest ] nor should anything 
be done to cause bodily fatigue just before rowing. 

A man who goes into training should have per- 
fect control over himself. The want of this power 
is the common and special defect, not only of weak 



50 OK TEAIKIXa EOPw BOAT EACIKG. 

mindS; but very often of the strongest natures ; it 
is seldom perfectly attained, but a close approxi- 
mation to it may be arrived at. 

It is hard to overcome bad habits that have 
been indulged in for some length of time ; yet it is 
absolutely necessary, to make a good rowing man, 
that these habits should be entirely overcome, if 
not forgotten. Eestraint is difficult with most men, 
but still it is of the last importance to a man in 
training, and if exercised will be of lasting benefit. 

On commencing training for rowing a race, the 
same attention should be paid to the necessity of 
having a large and airy sleeping apartment, as re- 
commended in the chapter on walking ; as also the 
bath on rising from the bed. The bath, as there 
stated, should always be coldj and not warm. It is 
a mistake to think that the body should be allowed 
to cool down before the bath is taken. Nothing 
closes the pores but the shrinking of the skin, and 
to do this by standing in the cold, you defeat the 
object for which the bath is taken. 

Training causes the speedy removal of all waste 
and the hastening forward of fresh material for its 
replacement, and in doing this it attains three 
distinct results : 1. It increases the size of the 
voluntary muscles employed. 2. It increases the 
functional capacity of the involuntary muscles. 
3. And by far the greatest, it x>romotes the health 



0:N" TEAIISTIN'G TOE BOAT IlACi:S"G. 51 

and strength of the whole body by increasmg res- 
piration and quickening the general circulation. 

A man should never row who is suffering from a 
severe cold, or inflammation of the chest or throat, 
or who has the slightest sign of palpitation of the 
heart. 

It is necessary, in most cases, for a man to take a 
little medicine on commencing to train, especially 
if the system has been excited or weakened by in- 
judicious living. The medicine mentioned in the 
instructions for walking and running will generally 
sufSice, but those who are at all in doubt should 
consult some good physician as to the best method 
to be adopted. 

On going into work, begin with moderation ; as, 
by overtaxing your powers at the outset, evil in- 
stead of good will be the result. The object of 
training is to graditally inure the body to severe 
demands upon its strength and lasting qualities. 
This can only be accomplished by a slight increase 
of physical exertion from day to day, until the 
condition becomes such that you can undertake 
your allotted task without fear of injury. Of this 
you must be your own judge. Men who are accus- 
tomed to gymnastic, or more or less violent exer- 
cise, as well as those whose occupation helps to 
develop the majority of the muscles, may increase 
their labors much faster than those whose life is of 



52 OK TRAIlt^IlSra FOR BOAT RACIIN'G. 

a sedentary character; the latter should be cau- 
tious at the beginning. 

Men who have been accustomed to the use of 
stimulants, such as liquor, tobacco, coffee, &:c., 
should gradually wean themselves from their use, 
some time before beginning to train. Inveterate 
smokers had better be allowed to smoke a little 
after dinner or supper, than be continually hank- 
ering after it (but this little smoke must be given 
up within at least two weeks of the race). With 
drinkers of stimulating beverages, a similar course 
may be tolerated in the early days of the training, 
weakening the dose from day to day, and reducing 
it to pure water in ten days, for ordinary cases. No 
spices should be used, and salt in as minute quan- 
tities as the taste will allow. 

A relish must always be felt for food, else it had 
better not be partaken of. Eat slowly, and masti- 
cate your food thoroughly. As little drink as pos- 
sible should be taken while eating. Above all, 
avoid drinking much cold water at any time, but 
more especially when heated by exercise. Einsing 
the mouth, and swallowing small quantities, will be 
found more efficacious in quenching the thirst than 
taking copious draughts. 

Do not sleep in the day time, but retire early 
and rise early. About eight hours' sleep is enough 
for any one, and as soon as you are awake take 



ox TRAINING FOR BOAT RACINa. 53 

your bath, and afterwards rub the body perfectly 
dry with a rough towel. Use flannel for your 
clothing, and when taking exercise which will 
cause you to perspire freely, be sure and have a 
change, and a good set of towels ready to rub dry 
with. 

As soon as you have cooled off after your bath, 
you should proceed to the place where your boat is 
housed, and take it to the river or water where 
you are to exercise. Then fetch your sculls or oars, 
as the case may be, and seat yourself. Next ex- 
amine your stretcher board or boards, and row- 
locks, thouls, &c., as well as the buttons on your 
sculls, if the sculls are so furnished. Then take a 
spin for about half an hour ; return and rub your- 
self dry, and after a stroll of a few minutes, to pre- 
vent cold, breakfast should be had, consisting of 
beefsteak, mutton-chops, or boiled eggs, with 
stale bread, or toast, and half a pint of good tea in 
which no green tea has been put. After breakfast 
lounge around for an hour or so, and about eleven 
o'clock take a glass of sherry with an egg beaten 
up in it, after which take a turn at the clubs or 
dumb-bells for an hour, and then another rest. 
Dinner should be had at 1 o'clock, and may be 
composed of a boiled rabbit, roast chicken, roast 
beef or mutton, or, in fact, any kind of meat except 
veal or pork — neither of which must be eaten on 



54 oisi TEAiisri:^ra for boat eacikg. 

any account, or any food of a greasy or fatty na- 
ture — a few potatoes, and a little cooked fruit, and 
boiled rice to finish up on, if the pupil likes it. 
Eest after dinner for at least an hour, then get into 
your boat and take a good sharp row for about 
three quarters of an hour, and on returning to the 
training quarters strip and take a cold bath, and 
rub the body perfectly dry with a rough towel, 
and put on a dry suit of flannels, and take par- 
ticular care to keep the throat and neck well cov- 
ered; for this purpose a silk or woolen hand- 
kerchief should be worn. After the body has 
become cool, stroll around until supper time, 
which should be taken about 6 o'clock, and 
consist of either a beefsteak or mutton-chops, 
stale bread, and a pint of tea with a little milk 
in it ; a few watercresses or lettuce may be add- 
ed. After supper stroll about for an hour, and 
then amuse yourself by reading until bed-time, 9 
o^clock. 

The walking, the running, the Indian clubs, and 
the dumb-bell exercises are taken to strengthen 
every available part and to assist the rowing pow- 
ers so that the man as well as the rower may be 
cultivated. No sound man need be afraid to exert 
himself for fear of ^^ taking out" of him; all that 
he loses in that way will be replaced tenfold by 
the very process of extraction. 



ox TEAIXIXG FOE BOAT EACII^^a. 55 

Sameness in exercise will undoubtedly give pre- 
cision and dexterity; but variety is essential to 
vigor and power. I mean by this, that the man 
training for a boat race requires the exercises 
named previously. 

To eat or drink beyond the requirements of the 
natural appetite, is at all times a great error, for 
every particle so taken becomes an incumbrance 
and a loss. The digestive organs will not convert 
more food into blood than is needed to supply the 
actual wants of the body. All men know, or should 
know, that intemperance and self-indulgence are 
incompatible with health, strength and activity, 
and that early hours in retiring to bed and rising 
in the morning, hair mattresses and spare bed- 
clothes, with a free use of cold water, are the 
means that men must adopt who are looking for 
physical perfection. 



56 



TABLES OF FAST TIME 



TABLES OF FAST TIME. 
RUlsr2vril!TG. 



Distance. 






Time. 






!N"ame. 


Country 




Miles. 


Yards. 




\y \j\j 1.^ X. XV X • 


hrs. 


min. 


sec. 




75 


W. Bingham^ 


America, 






7 




75 


H. 0. Crandell, 


i( 






7 




100 


Gr. Seward; 


England, 






9i 




100 


E. D. Davis, 


America, 






9i 




125 


J. W. Cozard, 


a 






12^ 




150 


Geo. Seward; 


England, 






14^ 




200 


Oc Westhall, 


a 






19i 




200 


Gr. Seward; 


i( 






19i 




300 


Frank Hewitt, 


(( 






33f 




300 


Frank Hewitt, 


America, at Adselt's 


33f 




300 


George Harris, 


Australia, 






33f 




440 


H. A. Reed, 


England, 






48i 




440 


Kelley Davis, 


America, 






49^ 




600 


H. Whitehead, 


England, 




1 


16 




880 


J. i^uttall, 


a 




1 


55f 




880 


F. Hewitt, 


Australia, 




1 


53i 




down hill 


B. Lang, 


England, 




4 


02 




level 


B. Lang, 


a 




4 


17i 




(( 


B. Richards, 


it 




4 


17 




<( 


W. E. Harding, 


America, 




4 


19i 




880 


W. J. Fleet, 


England, 




6 


50 


2 




Bill Lang, 


ii 




9 


11 


2 




W. E. Harding, 


America, 




9 


09 


3 




W. E. Harding, 


it 




14 


19 


4 




J. T^hite, 


England, 




20 


Oil 


5 




W. E. Harding, 


America, 




23 


27 


5 




W. Howitt, 


England, 




24 


36 


5 




W, E. Harding, 


Canada, 




24 


45 


6 




W. Howitt, 


England. 




29 


30 


10 




W. Lang, 


^ 




51 


26 


11 




James Pudney, 


11 




57 


30 


11 


880 


DeKelso, 


Canada, 




59 


58 


11 


790 


Deerfoot, 


England, 




59 


45 


12 




W. Lang, 


ti 


1 


02 


02i 


20 




J. Maxfield, 


a 


1 


58 


18 


40 




A. Wood, 




4 


56 


30 



TABLES or FAST TIME. 
WALKIl^G. 



57 



Distance 


"Kamf. 


COFXTRY 




Time. 


Miles J Yds. 






hrs. 


min. 


sec. 




880 ' C. "Westhall, 


England; 




3 


18 


1 




W. Boyd, 


i( 




6 


42 


2 




J. S. Stockwell, 


u 




22 


13^ 


4 




J. AdamS; 


a 




30 


341 


4 




W. Brown, 


America, 




29 


35i 


5 




J. Mills, 


England, 




39 


15 


7 




W. Spooner, 


ii 




52 


00 


8 




a. Toplev, 


(< 




59 


39 


9 




a. Topley, 


u 


1 


12 


48 


10 




W. Howes, 


a 


1 


24 


Olf 


15 




a. Topley, 


a 


2 


03 


10 


21 




Gr. Davison, 


a 


2 


53 


34 


25 




0. "Westhall, 


a 


2 


58 


45 


50 




J. Redfern, 


iC 


9 


34 


03 


60 




R. Fuller, 


u 


11 


36 


00 


100 




C. Barclay, 


Scotland, 


n7 


30 


00 


1000 




Capt. Barclay, 


England, 


1000 


oonsecutive 


1000 




Jas. Lambert, 


America, 


1000 


a 



* Exclusive of \\ hours for stoppages. 



HURDLE JTJMPI^S^G. 



ol 


It 

5^ 


Height. 


IS'A^IE. 


Country. 


Tevie. 


^s 


hrs. 
1 


min. 

11 

29 
15 


sec. 


200il0yds. 
500 *' 
1000 ^^ 


3 ft. 6 in. J. Gouldin2:,|England, 

W. Priestlv, 

'' ^. Priestly, '' 


23 
37 



JTJMPIl^G. 

Long Jump John Howard. -in England.. 29 ft. 

Standing Level -Ed. Searles "■ America.. 13 ^^ 

Balloate J. M. Kelley. . .over 17 horses. 



7 m. 
5| '^ 



58 



TABLES OF FAST TIME. 



s:n"ow-shoe racing. 



Distance. 






Time. 




"Name 


0OTTNTT?V 




Miles. 


Yards. 






hrs. 


min. 


sec. 




440 


J. D. Armstrong, 


Canada, 




1 


5 




880 


C. B. Kose, 


(( 




2 


40Jr 


1 




J. F. Scholes, 


Montreal; 




5 


39i 


2 




Kevaronwee, 


(( 




11 


30 


3 




Kevaronwee, 


u 




18 


50 


4 




Kevaronwee, 


ii 




24 


4 



ROWIJt^G. 



Miles 


Boats. 


]N"ame of Man or 
Crew. 


Where Bowed. 


Time. 














min. 


sec. 


2 


Single scull, 


R. E. Clark, 


America, 


13 


52 


2 


Double scull, 


Parker & Carpenter, 


" 


12 


54^ 


2 


Eour oared, 


Harvard Crew, 


*' 


10 


00 


3 


Single scull, 


James Hamill, 


'* 


22 


27 


3 


Four oared, 


Boston Crew, 


" 


19 


40 


3 


Six oared, 


Ward Brothers, 


*' 


17 


40 


4i 


Single scull. 


Tom White, 


England, 


23 


13 


5 


Single scull. 


Josh Ward. 


America, 


35 


10 


5 


Four oared. 


Gr. H. Brown Crew, 


" 


30 


44| 


6 


Four oared. 


J". A. Harding Crew, 


St. John's, liT.B. 


38 


50 



RESULTS OF THE RACES BETWEEN YALE 


ANE 


HARVARD 


COLLEGES. 


i 


WrNNER. 


Place. 


Time. 


Time 


N 


m. 


s. 


won by. 


1852 


Harvard; 


Lake "Winnipiseogee, 








1856 


u 


Conn. Eiver; Springfield; 








1859 


u 


Worcester, 


19 


18 


Imin 


1859 


Tale, 


^ ^ City Regatta next day. 






2 sec 


1860 


Harvard; 




18 


43 


22 sec 


1864 


Tale, 




19 


1 




1865 


(( 




18 


42i 


26isec 


1866 


Harvard; 




18 


43i 




1867 


u 




18 


121 




1868 


u 




17 


384 


10 sec 


1869 


u 


Lake Qninsigamnnd; 


19 


30 




1870 


(( 


u u 


19 


35 





TABLES OF FAST TIME. 59 

RESULTS OF THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CONTESTS. 









Time. 


Year. 


THINNER. 


Course. 






mill. 


sec, 


1829 


Oxford, 


Henley, 


14 


30 


1836 


Cambridge, 


Westminster to Putney, 


36 


00 


1839 


(( 


a u 


31 


00 


1840 


(i 


u a 


29 


30 


1841 


a 


li iC 


32 


20 


1842 


Oxford, 


C( (( 


30 


45 


1845 


Cambridge^ 


Putney to Mortlake, 


23 


30 


1846 


iC 


Mortlake to Putney, 


21 


05 


1849 


iC 


Putney to Mortlake, 


22 


00 




Oxford; 


11 u 


A foul. 


1852 


a 


U ii 


21 


36 


1854 


li 


ii ii 


25 


29 


1856 


Cambridge, 


Mortlake to Putney, 


25 


30 


1857 


Oxford, 


Putney to Mortlake, 


22 


50 


1858 


Cambridge, 


a a 


21 


23 


1859 


Oxford, 


H It 


24 


30 


1860 


Cambridge, 


a ii 


26 


00 


1861 


Oxford, 


a ii 


23 


26 


1862 


li 


ii ii 


24 


40 


1863 


11 


Mortlake to Putney, 


23 


05 


1864 


u 


Putney to Mortlake, 


21 


48 


1865 


li 


ii ii 


21 


23 


1866 


li 


ii a 


25 


48 


1867 


u 


a ii 


22 


39 


1868 


ii 


a ii 


20 


00 


1869 


i( 


a it 


20 


06i 


1870 


Cambridge, 


a a 


20 


30 


1871 


a 


a a 


23 


09i 


1872 


a 


a ii 


21 


14* 



*^ Disputed. 



60 SKETCH or THE AUTHOR'S LIEE. 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 



The following sketch of the life of the author 
will probably be interesting. 

William Edgar Harding is a Canadian by birth, 
and first saw the light of day in Toronto, C. W., 
on the 6th of June, 1847, which makes him at the 
present time 25 years of age. In his earlier boy- 
hood, when only 10 years old, he evinced the live- 
liest appreciation of all legitimate out -door sj)orts, 
and was always to be seen among the spectators at 
cricket and ball-matches. His fleetness of foot, 
which he often exhibited, soon obtained for him 
the friendship of sporting men, and his liking for 
pedestrian performances was encouraged by the 
presentation of prizes and presents. With every 
day's practice his speed visibly increased, and in 
1860, when not yet 14 years old, he had frequently 
made his mile at such a rattling pace as to be safe 
within 5 minutes. In the course of this year he 
left Whitley, and took up his quarters at Brock, 
Ontario Co. Here he at once attracted attention, 
and soon became the favorite young ^^Ped." among 
sporting men ; always ready to walk or run. In 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LITE. 61 

the early part of 1861, George Stevenson and Reu- 
ben Fenton^ of Manilla Corners, Ontario, took him 
in hand and matched him in a handicap with Pat- 
ton, Ross, Wilcox, Brant, and others, m which he 
beat all his opponents in a mile and a half race, 
winning a silver watch valued at that time at $50, 
and $25 in money. Shortly after this he pro- 
ceeded to Detroit, Michigan, and on June 3rd he 
was matched to run Stephen HoUywell 2 miles for 
$200 a side. The race took place at Detroit, on 
the 10th of the same month, and Harding won by 
50 yards in 9 minutes, 59 seconds. He then re- 
tm-ned to Canada, and was matched to run George 
Munroe 1 mile for $200, which he won, making the 
distance in 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Five weeks 
afterwards he beat Graham for $200, 2 miles in 9 
minutes, 58 seconds. 

These performances excited the jealousy of the 
most prominent pedestrians, who were very loth to 
see so young a runner take from them their hard- 
earned laurels. 

He was next matched for a race of 10 miles, with 
Mario w, the Indian pedestrian, and the cognoscenti 
predicted that he would be effectually disposed of 
by this noted runner. The race came off at Bell 
Swart, on Lake Simcoe, in August, 1861, and was 
a most exciting contest. Harding made the dis- 
tance in 57 minutes, 20 seconds, beating his antag- 



62 SKETCH or THE ATJTHOK^S LIFE. 

onist by 30i seconds; but the refereC; who had 
backed the Indian heavily to win, decided the race 
against him, and charged that he had crossed his 
opponent. 

In September, of the same year^ he ran half a mile 
with H. Watkins, for $100 a side, and was defeated. 
In January, 1862, he was matched to run ^'the 
London Stag/^ a distance of 2 miles, for $100 and 
the gate money. The race came off at Scarborough, 
in the winter, and resulted in Harding winning it 
in 9 minutes, 14 seconds. 

During the same year he was beaten in a 3 mile 
race with Bob Black, the Indian, for $200; and 
again by the half-breed runner, De Kelso, alias 
Bulger. 

He was then matched with James Wild in a mile 
race for $200, which allowed Harding to again 
raise his colors by winning the contest in 4 minuter, 
39 seconds. In a 2 mile race for $200, with Wm. 
Brandon, the latter won in 9 minutes, 36 seconds. 

In May, 1863, he entered for the Weldon Handi- 
cap at Markham Village, C. W. . For this event 
there were 15 entries, and among whom were De 
Kelso, Polton, Wild, and Brandon. Here, as in a 
majority of his contests, he gave evidence of great 
speed by defeating all his competitors. The dis- 
tance was 2 miles. Harding won from the scratch 
in 9 minutes, 6i seconds. He then made another 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 63 

trip to the United States, and was matched at 
Troy, to run Pete Johnson 2 miles for $200 a side, 
which he won. In the fall of 1863 he removed to 
New York, and at once became the pedestrian rep- 
resentative of the United States. He was after 
a while matched to run 3 miles with Jack Waldron, 
of Detroit, Mich. , for $300, and was victorious in 15 
minutes, 2 seconds. 

His next match was with Richards, of Chicago, 
2 miles for $200 a side, in which he was beaten, 
not being in good condition. He then retired for a 
time from the track, having defeated, at various 
times, nearly all the pedestrian celebrities. 

Harding then entered an establishment in New 
York as shipping clerk, and c6ntinued in that posi- 
tion up to June, 1866, when he entered the theatri- 
cal world, and visited various cities with the^ dra- 
matic club ; but before leaving New York, a race 
against time was gotten up from Fourteenth street 
to Barnum's old museum, a distance of 2 miles ; 
Milage Cornell wagering that Harding could not 
make the distance in 11 minutes. The race was run 
at midnight, and resulted in Harding covering the 
distance in 9 minutes, 33 seconds. This event was 
the talk of the town for some time, and led to a 
match with Brady, of Yorkville, 1 mile, for $50 a side, 
which Harding won in 4 minutes, 43 seconds. A 2 
mile race with the same man was then arranored for 



64 se:etch of the authoh's life. 

$200 a side, in which Harding surprised everybody 
by making the first mile in 4 minutes, 24 seconds, 
but on the second mile he, unfortunately, fell, and 
lost the race. Not being satisfied with this defeat, 
he made another match with Brady to run 3 miles 
for $500 aside, which took place at Paterson.N.J., 
on July 26th, 1866, and resulted in Harding mak- 
ing the fastest 3 mile time on record, viz : 5 min- 
utes, 10 seconds; 4 minutes, 20 seconds; and 4 
minutes, 184 seconds. 

He then issued a challenge in the New York 
Clipper^ to run anybody, 1, 2, or 3 miles. Ike 
Eooney, of South Brooklyn, N. Y., accepted the 
challenge, and a 2 mile race was arranged for $500 
a side. The contest came off at the Union Eace 
Course, L. I., Nov. 4th 1866, and Harding won, 
making the first mile in 4 minutes, 20 seconds ; and 
the second in 4 minutes, 19i seconds. In consequence 
of Harding winning this race no competitors could 
be found to run against him until December, when 
he issued another defiance, offering to run any man 
in the country. John Eowan, of Albany, accepted 
the challenge, providing Harding would run 5 miles. 
The match was made for $500 and the champion- 
ship of America. They ran on the 16th of January, 
1867, when Harding won. The following is the 
score. Eowan, first mile, 4 minutes, 30 seconds; 
Harding, 4 minutes, 36 seconds; second mile, 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOK^S LIEE. 65 

Rowan^4 minutes, 31 seconds; Harding^ 4 minutes, 
34 seconds; third mile, Eowan, 4 minutes^ 32 sec- 
onds; Harding, 4 minutes, 30 seconds; fourth mile, 
Eowan, 4 minutes, 52 seconds; Harding, 4 minutes, 
45 seconds; fifth mile, Rowan, 5 minutes, 40 seconds; 
Harding, 4 minutes, 49i seconds. An effort was 
made on the fifth mile, by the ^^nail boys,'^ to stop 
Harding on the track, but he dodged in among 
them, striking right and left, and came home 
with flying colors, winning the race in 24 minutes, 
23 seconds. 

A lull again occurred in his performances, until 
May 24th, 1867, when he determined to be one of 
the contestants in a grand handicap meeting at 
Manilla, Canada West. The first event was a 2 
mile race, in which 16 competitors started; among 
them was De Kelso, alias Bulger, Hank Patton, 
George Munroe, J. Wilde, Ike Rooney, and J. Rad- 
ford. In this race Harding wore American colors, 
consequently was not looked upon with very fa- 
vorable eyes by the Canadians, who predicted his 
defeat, and backed De Kelso at long odds. On 
the first mile Harding and De Kelso passed all the 
others, and came in neck and neck in 4 minutes, 20 
seconds ; but on the second mile Harding put on a 
spurt and completed it in 4 minutes, 23 seconds, to 
De Kelso's 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The Canadians 
were terribly crestfallen. The small knot of Amer- 



66 SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR^S LIEE. 

icans, on the contrary, were jubilant, and as 
Harding came in the winner they compelled the 
band to play ^^ Yankee Doodle/^ and '^See the Con- 
quering Hero comes." The stakes were £25. 

Harding then entered for the landlord's purse— 
distance 2 miles. This race resulted in a dead 
heat according to the judge's ruling, although 
Harding claims to have won by 2 feet. The stakes 
were divided. 

Before the Americans left for New York, they 
matched Harding to run De Kelso 3 miles for 
$1,000 a side. The race came off at Orillia, Can- 
ada West, on Lake Simcoe, August, 1867, and re- 
sulted in a win for Harding. He thus gained the 
title of '^Champion of America." In this race he 
made the fastest time on record, viz. : first mile in 
4 minutes, 18 seconds, to De Kelso's 4 minutes, 20 
seconds ; second mile in 4 minutes, 20 seconds, to 
De Kelso's 4 minutes, 23i seconds ; and the third 
mile in 5 minutes, 27i seconds; thus making the 
total distance in 14 minutes, 9 seconds. 

About this time, Harding accepted the position 
of Sporting Editor of the Sunday and Daily Neivs, 
by which he gained the title of the ^^ Literary Pe- 
destrian" and ^^ American Westhall." Shortly after 
his race with De Kelso, Harding's backers offered 
to bet from $1,000 to $3,000 that he would run 3 
miles on the Union or Fashion Course, inside of 15 



SKETCH OP THE AUTHOR'S LIEE. 67 

minutes, but there were no takers. Harding then 
published a challenge in the New York Clipper 
and BelVs Life^ offering to run any man in the 
world 3 miles for $5,000 a side, and to allow a rea- 
sonable amount for expenses. No reply was re- 
ceived to this challenge until December, 1867, when 
Teddy Mills, of England, offered to make a match 
for £509 a side for a 4 mile race in England. To 
this Harding, by the advice of his backers, respond- 
ed that he would make a home and home match, 
the first race to take place in England, and to be 
Mill's own distance, 4 miles; and the second to 
be run in America, on the Union course, 3 miles, for 
£1,000 a side, and the championship of the world. 
Mills would not agree to these terms, and therefore 
no match was made. 

Harding then accepted a challenge from De 
Kelso for a 3 mile race for the championship and 
$1,000 a side. The race came off at Orillia, C. W., 
and Harding won, making 4 minutes, 19i seconds; 
4 minutes, 23i seconds; and 4 minutes, 26i sec- 
onds. His next event was a half mile race for $50, 
at a pigeon match, with Mooney, which he won 
easily. 

Failing to get on another match for some time, 
he challenged the ^^ steam man'' for a race, but the 
owner of that mysterious mass of metal refused to 
accept. 



68 SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 

He then made a match with John Crawford, of 
Boston, Mass., in which he received forfeit. 

In March, 1868, De Kelso issued a challenge 
offering to run anybody 10 miles. Harding again 
came out, and after some little negotiation a 5 
mile race was arranged for $1,000 a side, to come 
off on the 18th of July, at New Market, C. W. In 
the meantime, Harding, in conjunction with E. D. 
Davis, the best short distance runner in America, 
got up several pedestrian congresses, after which 
he went into training and caught the yellow jaun- 
dice. The race was postponed, in consequence, 
until September, when it came off, Harding proving 
the victor, making the 5 miles in 24 minutes, 45 
seconds. 

After a lull of a few months, Harding walked a 
match at Tony Pastor's against the champion of 
Australia, which he lost by 3 seconds. He then 
went to Boston, and entered into the 10 mile walk- 
ing match against George Topley, champion of En- 
gland; Manning, of Boston; and Payne, who beat 
Weston. Harding was quite a novice at walking, 
and Topley allov\^ed every contestant 2 minutes' 
start. Harding had been up two nights— on Satur- 
day night in the News office, and on Sunday night 
in the cars, going to Boston. He walked in street 
gaiters and beat Payne and Manning, and was 
himself beaten by Topley. 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR^S LIFE. 69 

Shortly after this he entered for the ^^matrimo- 
nial stakes/' and won. He then determined not to 
engage in any more pedestrian events. A few 
months later Bill Lang and Bill Richards offered 
to run Harding, hut no race was made. 

When velocipedes were all the excitement in 
New York^ Harding quietly practiced, and on A. 
P. Messenger issuing a challenge to ride Walter 
Brown, Harding offered to accept the challenge in 
his steady and a match was accordingly made. 
The terms were 41 inch wheels, 25 miles, hest 2 in 
3 heats, for $500 a side. The race came off at the 
Empire Eink, New York, in May, 1870. Harding 
won on the first night, making the 25 miles in 1 
hour, 20 minutes. Messenger won the second 
night in 1 hour, 24 minutes. On the third night 
the most intense excitement prevailed, and Messen- 
ger was the favorite at 100 to 70. Harding, however, 
won, making the 25 miles in 1 hour, 18 minutes. 
He then issued a challenge offering to ride any man 
in America 5 miles, hut no one responded. 

His next performance was in August, 1871, 
when he rode 15 miles for the championship with 
McClellan, who made the distance in 49 minutes, 
against Harding's 51 minutes. 

He then retired from puhlic life, and is now de- 
voting himself entirely to his literary occupations. 



DICK & FITZGERALD, 

PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. 

The Publishers, upon receipt of the price, ivill send any of the fol' 
lonving books, postage free, to any part of the United States. In 
ordering books, the fidl name, post-office, county a7id State, shoidd 
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" Trumps' " American Hoyle ; or, Gentle- 
man's Hand-Book of Games. Containing clear and complete 
descriptions of all the Games played in the United States, with the 
American Rules for playing them ; including Whist, Euchre, Be- 
zique, Cribbage, All- Fours, Loo, Poker, Brag, Piquet, Ecarte, Bos- 
ton, Cassino, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Dominoes, Billiards, 
and a hundred other Games. This work is designed to be an 
American authority in all games of skill and chance, and will settle 
any disputed point. It has been prepared with great care by the 
editor, with the assistance of a number of gentleman players of skill 
and ability, and is not a re-hash of English Games, but a live Amer- 
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can Hoyle contains 525 pages, is printed on fine white paper, 
bound in cloth, with beveled boards, and is profusely illustrated with 
engravings explaining the different Games. Price $2 00. 

The Modern Pocket Hoyle. Containing all 

the Games of Skill and Chance, as played in this country at the 
present time ; being an " authority on all disputed points." By 
"Trumps." This valuable manual is all original, or thoroughly re- 
vised, from the best and latest authorities, and includes the laws and 
complete directions for playing one hundred and eleven different 
games, comprising Card games, Chess, Checkers, Dominoes, Back- 
gammon, Dice, Billiards, and all the Field games. 3S8 pages. 

Paper covers 50 cts. 

Bound in boards, cloth back 75 cts. 

Bound m cloth, gilt side and back $x 25. 

American Card-player. Containing clear and 

comprehensive directions for playing the Games of Euchre, Whist, 
Bezique, All-Fours, French Fours, Cribbage, Cassino, Straight and 
Di^aw Poker, Whiskey Poker and Commercial Pitch, together with 
all the laws of those games. This work is abridged from " The 
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Bound in boards, with cloth back, price 50 cts. 

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Howard's Book of Conundrums and Rid- 
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